THE NON-ENZYMATIC TRANSAMINATION AND DECARBOXYLATION OF AMINO ACIDS IN PRESENCE OF CELLULOSE

Abstract

The general characteristics of the transamination reaction between  a-amino acids and a-keto acids occurring by the action of heat in presence  of cellulose have been studied. Although the reaction is maximum at  acidic pH, it proceeds even at alkaline pH. Monocarboxylic as well as  dicarboxylic amino acids readily take part in the reaction. A mechanism  has been proposed for the formation of decarboxylation products from  glutamic and aspartic acids when they are heated in presence of keto  acids. Cobalt and manganous ions were found to inhibit the reaction